by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | May 10, 2024 | Lifeline
At the beginning of our reading, Kedoshim, Moshe is commanded to “speak to the entire congregation of the Children of Israel” [19:2]. Rashi explains that everyone was summoned to Moshe, to be taught these Commandments together. Why? Because, Rashi says,...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Apr 21, 2024 | Lifeline
Everyone knows that this has been a difficult year. But it is specifically after a year like this one that we see that the Haggadah, a text thousands of years old, remains as relevant and empowering as ever. During the Seder, we not only talk about Pharoah and the...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Apr 12, 2024 | Lifeline
Being human, we’ve all made mistakes. We’ve all made bad decisions, even doing things we knew we really shouldn’t. Sometimes, of course, such wrongdoing becomes public knowledge, and the embarrassment is extreme. [We even know of cases where people...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Apr 5, 2024 | Lifeline
In this week’s Parsha, we learn the tragic story of Nadav and Avihu, the two sons of Aharon who died after offering a “strange fire” to Hashem. Moshe gives Aharon and his remaining sons special instructions: “do not grow your hair and do not...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Mar 22, 2024 | Lifeline
The Sabbath prior to the holiday of Purim is called Parshas Zachor, the portion of remembrance. There is a Biblical command to remember what Amalek did, and to blot out the remembrance of Amalek. There is even a prohibition against forgetting. The Torah portion that...
